The Puggle, a hybrid between a beagle and a pug, has gained the spotlight over the course of the past year; however they have been in existence for over a decade. Touted as a great pet the Puggle began selling like crazy, prices spiking into the thousands for puppies 8-12 weeks old.
Part of the Puggle’s charm and selling power is its genuine good looks and sweet disposition. They are cuddle bugs with thickset bodies, big round eyes, droopy ears and a tail that wags a mile a minute. They are very easy to fall in love with, but would-be owners should be careful to consider all the Puggle has to offer before they go and purchase one of these wagging tailed beauties.
Because Puggles are a cross between a beagle and a pug (two incredibly different breeds) one must be aware that their new pal could inherent traits from either or both of their breeds. Those could be good or bad traits.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when buying a puppy is how that puppy and its breed traits will fit in with the owners' lives. Not every dog will be right for its owners and vice versa so serious debate is necessary to ensure another adorable dog will not end up in a shelter.
The Good
Puggles often inherit a longer nose then their full-blooded pug cousins, courtesy of their beagle blood line. Because their snout is longer they seem to bypass some or most of the breathing problems associated with the Pug.
Both the Beagle and Pug are recognized as extremely loyal and loving animals and the Puggle is no different. Their disposition is generally kind and good natured. Most describe their Puggles as high energy comedians with a great sense of humor. Because of their good nature and their playful personality they make great pets for children who can keep up with them.
The Puggle is a relatively small dog, anywhere from 15 to 30 pounds and works well in an apartment setting as long as regular exercise is made available to them. They are high energy and regular walks are a necessity to rid them of any wild or destructive tendencies.
The Bad
The Puggle is an intelligent breed; however they can be stubborn and difficult to train. Most training guides and magazine articles suggest it can take up to 12 months to fully house-train a Puggle. Other breeds get it off the bat within a matter of days. The Puggle is a bit more strong willed. Additionally the Puggle is a rather sensitive dog so yelling or stern training can have a serious and undesirable impact on its behavior. Gentle but firm training with constant reinforcement is probably the best route for these little dogs.
Because the Puggle has Beagle in him it is not uncommon to inherit the very distinctive Beagle howl. It may be cute while they are puppies and first finding their “voice” but can quickly become irritating to the humans around, including neighbors. Because of this the Puggle may not be ideal in areas were housing is extremely close or where neighbors could be easily irritated. Again it must be noted that not ALL Puggles will inherit the howl but it is a possibility and owners should be prepared for it.
The beagle is a runner and their body and face is designed specifically for that purpose. Puggles can inherit the Beagles’ athleticism and love of running but their shorter snouts may cause exhaustion issues. Many Puggles can easily tire after rough playing and owners should be aware of the dog’s limitations.
Puggles are NOT hypoallergenic and their short coats shed quite a bit. A daily brushing and wiping them down with a wet towel ensures they are clean and dead hair is removed but they are far from hypoallergenic and would-be owners should seriously consider how that will impact all members of the family the dog will have regular contact with.
In conclusion the Puggle can be a great pet, for the right person. The traits of both breeds should be considered and researched because you can get any mix of them, for better or worse.
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